How To Pronounce Able

able

Phonemic

/ˈeɪ.bəl/

Phonetic

[ˈeɪ.bl̩]

Phonemic

/ˈeɪ.bəl/

In British English, able is pronounced /ˈeɪ.bəl/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈeɪ.bl̩]. In American English, it is pronounced /ˈeɪ.bəl/.

Able has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first syllable. British and American speakers say it the same way.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Syllables, Stress And Endings

Syllables And Stress

eɪbəl

Able has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the first syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is Oo, where O is the stressed syllable.

able + -er

-er (comparative) is /ə/ in UK English and /ɚ/ in US English. The /ə/ before the /l/ drops out, so the /l/ and the ending share a syllable.

/ˈeɪ.blə/

/ˈeɪ.blɚ/

able + -est

-est (superlative) is always /ɪst/. The /ə/ before the /l/ drops out, so the /l/ and the ending share a syllable.

/ˈeɪ.blɪst/

Words That Rhyme With Able

Questions About Able

How do you pronounce able in British English?

In British English, able is pronounced /ˈeɪ.bəl/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈeɪ.bl̩].

How do you pronounce able in American English?

In American English, able is pronounced /ˈeɪ.bəl/.

How many syllables are in able?

Able has two syllables, /eɪ/ + /bəl/.

Where is the stress in able?

The main stress is on the first syllable, /eɪ/.

Do British and American English pronounce able the same way?

Yes. Both are /ˈeɪ.bəl/.

Search All 10,380 Words In The App

Other Words With The Stress Pattern Oo

Nearby Words

Learn English and Literature with Adroit Tutors on our website, and order course materials there too.